Kresge Research Guides: Business Research Resources for "Non-Business-y" Types: Industries

Get Started Quick!

IBISWorld Industry Reports
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Unlike some industry databases which tend to focus on larger, more defined industries, IBISWorld covers a lot of smaller, "niche-ier" industries.

Company & Industry Ratios

Ratios can often provide a nice benchmark--especially useful when dealing with smaller, private companies. Here's where you can find some:

Almanac of Business & Industrial Financial Ratios (print)
Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios (print)
RMA Annual Statement Studies (print and also found in OneSource)
BizStats

UCLA has a nice guide on finding ratios:

http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x14414.xml

So does Ohio U:

http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/businessblog/financial-ratios/

Industry Research Databases

BCC Research
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Market research reports and market forecasting in advanced materials, biotechnology, chemicals, energy, healthcare, sensors, plastics, nanotechnology, and other emerging technologies.
Business Insights: Global
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contains: Ency. of American Industries, Ency. of Emerging Industries, Ency. of Global Industries and Datamonitor Industry profiles
FitchConnect
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BMO provides industry surveys for over 100 countries worldwide. The industries covered include automobiles, food and drink, tourism, Pharmaceuticals, and others.
FitchConnect training videos:
Macro Overview-Country Risk, Industry Risk, Global Research, Interactive Charts.

Country Risk and Industry Research search for multiple countries and industries

Interactive Charts

Indices, Databases, Data Tools, Webinars and Support
Euromonitor Passport
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- Consumer market information, demographic and economic forecast data for many countries and regions. Lots of great reports or check out the Menu Search to build a data set by varioius categories and geographies.
- Euromonitor Passport is also cross-listed under the International and Consumer sections.
Video tutorials:
- Euromonitor International YouTube Channel
IBISWorld Industry Reports
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Database features wider range of industries covered than Standard & Poor’s NetAdvantage. Individual reports include information such as product and service segmentation, barriers to entry, and major players.
MarketResearch.com Academic
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Our academic subscription to this database gives us access to select full-text international market research reports. Includes topics like business services, consumer goods, food and beverages, life sciences, demographics, heavy industry and technology/media.
Video tutorial
Mintel
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Mintel focuses mostly on consumer products and services and covers the US and European marketplace.
Statista
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Statista covers a little bit of everything, including a number of industry areas and consumer behavior.

Industry-Specific Databases

Automotive News Data Center
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Includes statistics on auto and light truck production, including model.
Technical notes:
- The Kresge subscription includes FULL ACCESS to the data center. Messages that warn "full access required" will not prevent access.
- The Market Data Books are available on the Data Center menu.
- Full text articles from Automotive News are available through databases listed in Library Search
- RSS feed alerts available
eMarketer
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Provides market research information about the Internet, e-business, online marketing, and emerging technologies, aggregated from over 1,700 sources.
Video tutorials:
Tutorial Access Demo
Gartner
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Contains a comprehensive body of technology knowledge and is a resource used to help decision makers capitalize on information technologies and markets.
Email alerts available
SBR Net
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Monthly and annual statistics, market research, media reports, and related content for dozens of sports.

Industry Research Tips

First: Define your industry:

If you're looking at the "beauty" industry, does that mean make-up/cosmetics? Or does it also including shampoos and soaps, etc.? Does the underwear industry include lingerie? Long underwear? Men's? Women's?
Not every database covers every industry--search multiple sources and be willing to look for related or broader categories. Remember that the more granular or 'niche-y' you get, the more difficult it will be to find information.

The answer may not even be in a database

Remember to ask yourself "Who cares?"

Google industry keywords and add in terms like "association" or "organization" and see what comes up.
Try to identify library guides from other institutions (or your own!) by Googling industry keywords and adding in terms like "library" and "guide" and limit to site:.edu

Do an article search on industry keywords and be on the lookout for references to sources of data.

Similarly, you can do a Google Scholar search on your industry keywords and look for data sources.

Industry classification systems, like NAICS and SIC, are just one tool to utilize when researching industries. For correspondance tables between NAICS and SIC, see http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/concordances/concordances.html